Half and Half

Chapter Ten

"Thank you all for coming," Belle said as she stared at her husband's council. If anyone thought it strange that she was there as she was normally absent from council meetings to spend time with her children, they didn't comment on it.

"Of course Queen Belle," Elsa nodded. "When the King calls his council, we're bound to arrive unless the King has allowed for a substitute in our place."

Belle gave Elsa a small smile before speaking once more. "I know it must have been a bit of a shock to all of you to receive such a rushed call but I have discovered some information regarding the Isle that needs to be discussed urgently."

"Information about the Isle?" Aladdin asked, sitting forward in his seat. "What kind of information? There's nothing wrong with the barrier is there?"

"No, no. From what we know, Sultan Aladdin, the barrier is fine," Belle said and then sighed. "Look, I'm not even going to sugar coat this because as a mother, I am both infuriated and horrified about this! I have received testimony from a resident of the Isle...a little girl of five...that the the residents of the Isle are being denied basic rights such as edible food, a medical system, and it's to the point where children are being abused!"

"What?!" Aladdin and Eugene exclaimed at the same time while Elsa gasped, horror evident in her eyes.

"They're being denied edible food?" Phoebus asked in outrage. "Gods, at least Frollo gave people that much before he tried burning Paris to the ground! Who's idea was this?"

"Phoebus, calm down," Shang said. "I'm as angry as you are but I'm more focused on the fact that children are being abused."

"What do you expect with an Isle of villains?" Chi-fu asked. "I mean really?"

"That is not the point Chi-fu! The point its that there is a little girl with a cast on her leg and a broken ankle because the person who gave birth to her didn't like it when she accidentally called them by their name! And it's only thanks to Lady Persephone's kind heart that she was able to come here and get a cast and be assured that her ankle will heal correctly," Belle said firmly.

"That poor girl!" Cinderella gasped. "I can't image...what kind of a person would break a young girl's ankle simply because she called them by their name? While it's not something I'd appreciate, I'd talk to my children about why that's not appropriate rather than...I don't think anyone here would strike a child!"

"I agree with you Queen Ella," Belle nodded. "Whether the adults are villains or not, the children are innocent and from the young girl's testimony, there are more children than just her who have to go through this."

Aladdin shook his head. "I can't imagine...growing up on the streets of Agrabah, I'd broken my fair share of bones at a young age but I could never imagine such a thing being inflicted by a parent," he said, his voice soft. "She's not getting sent back there is she? If Lady Persephone brought her over to have her injury treated, surely she's not getting sent back to the Isle after recovering?"

"Lady Persephone has started the process to get custody of the girl, her and her husband Lord Hades. In fact, Lady Persephone has already started to think of her as her daughter. However that...that means that the girl will have to return to the Isle periodically unless Lady Persephone comes up with a different arrangement. We can't do much about that. Thankfully though she's in safe hands. What we can do its what's right for the Isle, starting with fresh food and a medical system—."

"Forgive me Queen Belle," Phoebus spoke up. "I agree that what you say is absolutely true, that the Isle deserves these things, I also think they deserve some justice."